Giraffe newborn

August 2013

This month, guests at Sanctuary Kusini were lucky enough to witness a newborn giraffe take its first steps...

On their way back the camp, after an action-packed day of game
vieiwing, guests had the rare opportunity to witness the first
steps of a newborn giraffe calf. The mother had given birth just
minutes before, and our guests watched from a far as the calf
attempted to get up and take its first shaky steps.

As the world's tallest animals, giraffe calves can be born at a
staggering 1.8m in height. The mother will give birth standing up
as the calf emerges head and front legs first, severing the
umbillical cord as it falls to the ground. The mother will then
groom the newborn and help it to its feet before it is running
around on steady legs within a matter of hours.